On Thursday, residents woke up on to a thick blanket of fog that caused a series of road accidents, long tailbacks and disruption of flights in Dubai and Sharjah. Visibility dropped to 200 metres, affecting a large chunk of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Meanwhile, at least 10 people were injured as 68 vehicles collided in separate incidents on the same stretch of Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Street on Thursday morning. The accidents took place just before Ghantoot on Abu Dhabi-Dubai road and were caused due to fog and low visibility.

The police urged motorists to be cautious while driving and maintain safe distance between vehicles as there is low visibility. The police also asked drivers to check latest weather updates before driving.

Rains likely till Monday

Residents are advised to brace for rains until Monday, a spokesperson at the NCM told Khaleej Times.

Tomorrow is expected to become hazy to partly cloudy in general. Temperature will tend to rise gradually and the moderate to fresh southeasterly to easterly winds will cause blowing dust and sand over the exposed areas.

Sunday will be partly cloudy to cloudy over scattered areas, especially over the coastal areas and northward. There will be scattered rainfall with lightning at times especially in the northern and eastern part of the country.

Rain is also expected on Monday as it will be a hazy and partly cloudy day with the northwesterly winds causing blowing dust and sand over some areas.